Of all the significant events that occurred in the landmark year of tumult and disruption of 1968 -- when the Tet Offensive altered the dynamic of the war in Vietnam, when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated, when American cities burst into flames, when violence marred the Democratic National Convention -- there were only three uplifting moments.Monday, March 19, 2018

Next year on Mars. Well, not quite, but entrepreneur Elon Musk told the tech confab South by Southwest that the interplanetary spaceship he's building will be able to do short "up and down" flights by next year. Friday, March 16, 2018

If you're like me and can't resist buying hothouse grape tomatoes in the middle of the winter -- even when we know better -- this recipe will address any buyer's remorse. It's not the fault of the tomatoes, of course. They do look irresistible, but looks can be deceiving with these plump and oh-so-red tomatoes, which often disappoint in the flavor department when they are out of season.Saturday, March 3, 2018

DEAR BRUCE: In your column, you repeatedly advise people of various ages that they have to have some money in the stock market or they will lose out in the long run. You seem to be talking about individual stocks. Are the index funds that follow the Standard and Poor's market just as good as several individual stocks and possibly a little safer? -- WayneSaturday, February 17, 2018

Are you a fan of pho? If you've never had it, pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup. It consists of a mountain of slurp-worthy rice noodles mingling in an umami-rich soup with meat, such as chicken or beef, or tofu and vegetables. The bonus is the garnishes -- a garden basket of leafy herbs, chiles and sprouts to scatter over the top, with squirts of lime, hot sauce and hoisin for good measure.Saturday, February 17, 2018

DEAR BRUCE: I have three kids: 19, 17 and 14. The trend that I'm seeing with them is that none of them have saved any money for their futures. When they get money they spend it on junk, designer-name stuff because it looks cool or whatever. I wasn't the best example for saving money, but I want to reverse that trend. I am running out of ideas! -- CharlesSaturday, February 3, 2018

There were three forlorn parsnips in my refrigerator yesterday, wedged behind a bulbous celery root, buried beneath a floppy pillow of lettuce. Somehow, these lonely roots escaped the chicken dinner I'd made earlier in the week, when I scattered onions, carrots and potatoes around a chicken while it roasted. It was all for the best.Saturday, February 3, 2018

It took a good long while for me to reconcile with the flavor of beets. I eyed them from the sidelines, attracted to the striking colors of their nutrient-rich flesh, yet wary of their earthy flavor. As a cook, I wished to like beets, and as a parent, I wanted to serve them -- so I willed myself to eat beets until I learned to love them.Saturday, January 20, 2018

This tart is a vehicle for two winter-friendly ingredients -- caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese. Caramelized onions are sweet, savory and slick. A lengthy cooking time coaxes out their abundant natural sugars and releases their juices, resulting in a squidgy heap of golden brown onions.Saturday, January 6, 2018

DEAR BRUCE: My college administrative board of trustees is considering leaving TIAA/CREF in favor of a locally owned investment company. The local company has a decent reputation working with investments typically associated with such companies.Saturday, December 23, 2017

There is no better time to have a salad than in the winter. Yep, that's right: Salads aren't just summer fare. When the cold weather settles in, it's even more important to get our daily dose of vitamins and nutrients.Saturday, December 23, 2017